By MATT VAUTOUR
AMHERST — Eventually new UMass hockey coach Greg Carvel is hoping a No. 1 goaltenders emerges.
Until then he’ll audition the three he has.
“We want to give all three guys opportunities. It’s always great if one guy makes the decision for you,” he said. “At this point I don’t think that’s the case.”
Throughout his coaching career at St. Lawrence, Greg Carvel has always had a No. 1 guy, somebody he could send out night in and night out knowing what he’d be getting. Ideally he’d like to do that here.
“In four years it was a one-goalie system,” he said. “I like it better that way unless you have two really good options where you’re going to give each guy one night each weekend, but that’s pretty rare.”
He’s got three candidates who’ll try to fill that role, and all three figure to get a chance to prove themselves early on.
Alex Wakaluk is the veteran of the group. The senior who struggled early in his career found some consistency during last year’s stretch run and has been named a captain.
Sophomore Nic Renyard was 5-15-4 last year but showed signs at time of having No. 1 goalie potential.
Freshman Ryan Wischow, who’d originally committed to play for Carvel at St. Lawrence, followed the coach to Amherst and figures to get a long look.
Carvel said it wasn’t only puck-stopping that would decide the winner of the competition, but it was a big part.
“Ideally you want a kid who has bought into everything you’re trying to do, who is a good student and a good person,” he said. “But first you’ve got to stop the puck.”
BEAR PROMISING — True freshman Shane Bear came in with the a reputation for being an offensive catalyst from the blue line.
With an even strength goal and two power play assists in Saturday’s 7-5 exhibition win over Dalhousie, he appears to be living up to that reputation so far.
“He’s an excellent hockey player. He’s really smart. He’s young. He needs to get into better shape. His foot speed needs to get a little better. But that’ll come as he adjusts. He reads the game very well. He’s got a good skill set. He’s a top four defenseman right now. I expect him to be for his whole time here.”
Bear said he better use his brain. At 5-foot-10, 190-pounds, his brawn is limited.
“Being a smaller defenseman, I’m not going to be the big rough and tough throw the body around type,” he said. “I just try to make plays. Make a good first pass, shoot when I can and not try to do anything too out of my game.”
Bear said he’s making the transition to college and enjoying it.
“It’s a bit of an adjustment at first. Not only the increased level of hockey, but the schooling and academics on top of that,” he said. “But it’s been great, the guys are great. The school has been phenomenal. I love it here.”
FUTURE MINUTEMEN — Five UMass recruits were on NHL Central Scouting’s players to watch list. Defenseman Cam Makar was ranked highest, projecting as a B prospect, a likely second or third round pick.
Goalie Matthew Murrary, defensmen Mario Ferraro and Jason Dobay and center John Leonard, an Amherst native, were all C prospects — likely to go in rounds 4-6.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage